the beginning of the figueroa ballroom 1938

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The Beginning of the Figueroa Ballroom 1938 Livermore, Iowa 50558

By Kirk Hundertmark

In March of 1880, "Doc" Russell constructed a 20' x 120' brick building which was the "St. James

Hotel." In the 1900 late teens the “Rossing Sisters,” Amalia and Kate purchased the "St. James

Hotel" and along with this they added a dining room and café along the east side of the hotel

which became known as the “Rossing Sisters Hotel.” On October 29, 1922, the “Rossing

Sisters” sold their large “Rossing Sisters Hotel” that Kate, Amelia and brother Anton Rossing had

run as the “Rossing Sisters Hotel” for thirty years and they also sold the smaller hotel near the

Rock Island depot to E.A. Geisel of Jackson, Minnesota and was the business was leased to Mr.

Tony Mack. After a few years, the “Rossing Sisters” again took over the hotel and ran it until

about 1936, they then moved to California and lived with a nice, Deodota (Rossing) Maxey.

They leased the “Rossing Sisters Hotel” it to a niece, Dorothy (and Carl) Pedersen who ran and

managed it until 1938. The hotel went up for tax sale and Lest R. Smith purchased the Tax Title

and was waiting for the time to run out on the right of redemption.

On May 12, 1938 Lester R. Smith & Helen Smith from Waterloo, Iowa succeeded in obtaining

the ownership of the old "St. James Hotel” and started his plans and preparations for the new

café and amusement hall. The week of May 16, 1938 work began on tearing down the old St.

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James hotel because the brick on the front to the building was fall down onto the sidewalk. Mr.

Smith hired Hans Madison and his workers to start work, but shortly after Mr. Madison got

slightly injured by having a radiator tip over on him. Since then he mostly bossed, leaving the

heavy labor to his fellow workers.

Lester Smith applied for a building permit with the Livermore City Council on June 7th 1938,

according to the June 16, 1938 Livermore Gazette paper to remodel the old bank for his café

and to erect a frame building, 45 feet by 100 feet, veneered with slate shingles of fire resisting

quality the old St. James Hotel site for a new amusement hall. Mr. Lester Smith was working

industriously every day with helpers to get his new restaurant in to shape so that he could

house his family there and open up the café business, but would be leaving the construction

and remodeling of the west portion (The Old St. James Hotel /Rossing Sisters Hotel) portion of

the proposed building on the corner lot to a later day, or until the best use of make of it.

June 20 1938 during the tearing down of the old St. James hotel, Mr. Smith soon found out that

the upper story of the hotel for many years has been the home of a colony of bees, which have

resisted all efforts to discourage them from using the building. Mr. Smith finally inserted a

hose into their abiding place, connected it with an automobile and pumped exhaust gas int

them until they were all gone or dead.

June 23 1938 Hans Madison and his workers commence the building of the foundation for the

structure that Lester R. Smith plans to erect on the site of the old St. James Hotel.

On Sunday July 10, 1938 Lester opened “Smith’s Café” with a Fried Spring Chicken Dinner.

What was formerly the old “Farmers savings Bank” building located on the east side of the "St.

James Hotel,” and this building has undergone a great transformation. The front of the old bank

was torn out and rebuilt for the cafe and Lester’s family settled in the building. Mr. Smith now

turned his attention to the erection of the amusement hall that he plans to build adjoining the

café on the west, on the site of the old St. James hotel that will be 45 feet by 100 feet, which

will afford elbow room for quite a few dancers and other acrobats, or even a movie show.

In the Thursday Livermore Gazette paper on August 4, 1938, Mr. Smith building amusement hall

was started under the workmanship of Geo. Lenertz continued with his able helpers who

assumed proportions that gave them an idea of the completed structure. Mr. Smith said that it

would meet the requirements of almost anything from a social dance to a small circus along

with out-of-door gatherings which are prevented on account of bad weather will find ample

space to congregates. Mr. Smith christened the hall in advance with a fitting name “Figueroa”

and the Grand Opening of the new ballroom was to follow soon!

Thursday August 11, 1938 Mr. Lenertz and his gang of carpenters started to lay the Maplewood

floor in the new “Figueroa” dance hall.

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Lester Smith said that he named it the "Figueroa Ball Room," after the longest street in Los

Angeles, California. Figueroa Street is a major north-south street in Los Angeles County,

California, spanning from the Los Angeles neighborhood of Wilmington north to Eagle Rock. The

street is named for General José Figueroa (1792 – September 29, 1835), governor of Alta

California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California.

Figueroa is a Spanish surname of Galician origin!

The Grand Opening of the New “Figueroa Ball Room” was held on Thursday, September 1,

1938. The “Gordon Leach Ten Piece Band” from Mason City Iowa played, they were a well-

known talented band playing snappy music. Mr. Smith said that the arranged twelve booths so

that the occupants could watch, look and listen, eat or drink, without interfering with the

people who were engaged in the pleasures of the dance.

Labor Day Monday, September 5, 1938 was the Old Settlers Log Cabin Picnic and, in the

evening, the “Carl Nebee’s Band” from St. WOI in Ames, furnished the music for the Grand Ball

that was held in the New “Figueroa Ball Room” that was beautifully lighted and decorated, and

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furnished with every convenience. The report was that well over 600 people attended and

there was no parking space in town to be found.

Thursday, September 15, 1938 – “Byron Dunbar and his Hotel Biltmore Orchestra” played, they

are an outstanding band with plenty of “Wim & Wigor”

Thursday, September 22, 1938 – “W. M. T. German Band,” meet your friends at the “Figueroa”

and see the Dutchmen do their stuff.

Thursday, September 29, 1938 -- “Court Hussey” one of Iowa’s finest dance band and they have

been featured on the NBC Network.

The Livermore Community Boosters will be presenting at the “Feagin-Wilson Players in person

at the new “Figueroa Ballroom.” The show consisted of talented radio and stage performers,

offering the latest plays and a variety of clean, wholesome vaudeville. The shows were every

Saturday Night starting on Saturday, September 24, 1938 and they ran through the fall and

winter season. The shows were sponsored by the merchants of Livermore and everyone was

told to ask for their merchants for courtesy tickets!

Some of the following Bands and Orchestra’s played during the 1938 era were;

Thursday, October 6, 1938 – “Geo. Shuey and His Famous Dixieland Swing Band” Thursday,

October 13, 1938 – Gordon Leach and His Orchestra (Mr. Leach Played during their Opening

Dance). Thursday October 20, 1938 – “Evan Morgan and His Orchestra.” Tuesday, October 25,

1938 -- “Joe Fisher and His Orchestra” playing both Old and New Dance Melodies, then on

Thursday October 27, 1938 the “Woody Sargo and His Orchestra” played. Thursday, November

3, 1938 – “Leo Doeges and His Orchestra.” On Tuesday, November 8, 1938 – “Earl Hunt and

His Orchestra” this famous band has created “Big Noise” and on Friday, November 11, 1938 --

will be the outstanding “Don Kelley and His Very Fine Ten Piece Band.” Thursday, November

17, 1938 – “Court Hussey.” Thursday, November 24, 1938 – “Red Heggen and His Nine-Piece

Swing Band.” Thursday, December 1, 1938 – “Bobby Griggs and His Popular Swing Band”

Thursday, December 8, 1938 – by special request “Gordon Leach and His Very Excellent Band.”

Thursday, December 15, 1938 – “Red Sievers and His Very Excellent Band” this was an

outstanding twelve-piece Swing Band. Thursday, December 22, 1938 – “Al Sky and His Twelve

Piece Swing Band” brand new band to this territory and they have a fine reputation. Monday,

December 26, 1938 “Leo Doeges and His Very Excellent Orchestra” and on Thursday, December

29, 1938 – the “Al Menke and his famous Swing Band.” The last band of the year was a New

Year’s Eve party with “Hal Carpenter and his Band” along with Balloons, Confetti and Noise-

Makers.

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Some of the following Bands and Orchestra’s played during the 1939 era;

Thursday, January 5, 1939 – “Chase Evans and His Twelve-Piece Swing Band.” Thursday,

January 12, 1938 – “Woody Sargo and His Famous Swing Band.” Thursday, March 2, 1938 –

“Gordon Leach and His Celebrated Swing Band” they have also added three electric violins, five

trombones, four trumpets and a wonderful singing trio, you will not want to miss. Thursday,

May 18, 1939 – Maurie Sherman and His Merry Garden Ballroom Orchestra of Chicago (See

Poster). The Figueroa Ballroom was equipped with a modern Cooling system for dancing

comfort. On Tuesday July 4, 1939 the “Vance Dixon and His Orchestra” played, then on

Thursday July 6th 1939 the “Lloyd Wells and His Popular Swing Band” played! The moto was to

come and dance at the Figueroa Ball Room and stay “Cool Like an Iceberg”. The ballroom

sometimes had crowds of 800 to 900 people attending. Back then the ballroom could hire a 11-

piece band for around $60 to $75 nightly, such as “Lloyd Hanson and his orchestra”, “Don Lee

Band”, the ballroom also held two “USO Shows” however Mr. Smith was never able to get the

“Lawrence Welk Band.” The “Lawrence Welk Band” did play in Livermore, just across the street

to the West at the “Miller Opera House” a building that held 400 people and was built in 1891

by W.F. “Editor” Miller.

On Thanksgiving night in 1940 they had one of the largest crowds ever in attendance, with 841 tickets sold.

Some of the following Bands and Orchestra’s played during this era.

• Thursday, April 24, 1941 – Ott Menke Orchestra (See Attached Poster)

• Thursday, May 1, 1941 – Bennett Greten

• Tuesday, May 6, 1941 – Six Fat Dutchmans (Another Mixed Dance)

• Thursday, May 8, 1941 – Doc Lawson on His Hammond Electric Organ

• Thursday, May 15, 1941 – Hank winder (A Vic Schroeder Band)

• Thursday, July 3, 1941 – Dawn Dance & Floor Show Poster – Betty Mae Harris All-Iowa

Revue Hawaiian Hula Dances and Lloyd Wells and his orchestra (See Attached Poster)

• Thursday April 9, 1942 – Paul Moorhead

• Thursday, July 2, 1942 – Ralph Slade and His Orchestra

• Thursday, July 9, 1942 – Gene Pieper and His Popular Orchestra

• Thursday, July 16, 1942 – Ray Alderson and His Orchestra

In 1942 the dance hall was taken over and managed by Amalia and John J. Groh, who then purchased the ballroom on November 30th 1943 after the Smith's moved to Nora, Minnesota.

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Frank (Bill) E and Helen Lynn Nunamaker bought the place in November of 1945. On Thursday May 12, 1949 -- “Lee Barron” played at the Figueroa Ballroom, admission was a $1.00 tax included. The Figueroa now served Cocoa-Cola and 7-Up in the bottle only 10 cents tax included.

On Tuesday, February 27th 1951, Bill’s Café and the Figueroa Ballroom were sold to Mr. Ace C. and Irene M. Bordwell along with Ace Jr. Bordwell as first parties with F. G. Buske and Lucille Buske as Second parties. Ace Jr. Bordwell said that they took immediate possession and that after some remodeling and redecorating, they would be open for business on Monday March 5th, 1951. They will open under the name Ace’s Ballroom and Ace Café, they will be serving meals as well as lunches in connection with the ballroom, with their first dance being held on March 17th, 1951 St. Patrick’s Day.

On August 29, 1956 it transferred from A. C. Bordwell, Jr. and Nadine Bordwell to Ace. C. Bordwell and café.

In 1956, Leonard and Alice Roseau operated “Rosey’s Café” that he purchased from Fred Buske, then converted it from a dance hall into a roller-skating rink and a bowling alley.

In 1960 Ray Van Voohris became the manager of the Livermore new bowling alley and reported that league bowling would start on September 5, 1960. Members of the new board of directors were: J.F. Hamm, Richard Sawyer, Jerry Foreman, L.N. Bormann and James Lempke. Officers were: Chet Baker, President – Don Logue, Secretary and R. Wilson, Treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Allan Sinclair took over the bowling alley and the past four years Leonard Rosenau (Rosey) has been manager until it closed in January 1972, Mr. Rosenau had “Rosey’s café” next door to the bowling alley which was managed separately and Rosey continued to operate. Rosey’s plans to reopen as The Livermore Ballroom, Formerly Livermore Lanes, a 45 ft. by 120 ft building that was newly remodeled and hosted dancing again on St. Patrick’s Day Friday, March 17, 1972 with the Arch Thorson’s Dixieland Band from Fort Dodge, Iowa. Dancing was held for 22 years in the building before it became a bowling alley in 1960.

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The “United Countrymen” one of the first in Country Western Music on Saturday night May 20, 1972.

Rosey’s Café will still hold Fish Fry every Friday night! June 1974 Rosey’s Café and Livermore Ballroom started serving boasted chicken and holding dancing every Friday and Saturday Night!

Friday, January 31, 1975 – Roger Hanes and His Orchestra played and on Saturday, February 1, 1975 – Verne Claussen and His Orchestra played for Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bormann 25th Wedding Dance.

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Then in March of 1976, Leonard A. “Rosey” Rosenau and Irene A. Roseau sold it to Melvin Mertz of Algona, Iowa. Mr. Mertz said the ballroom would be closed until April and that he intends to continue to book the Polka and big-band-sound groups that have frequented Livermore in the recent years, however he really would like to bring in entertainers from the rock, county western and bluegrass fields of music. Mr. Mertz said that he also plans to continue to operate the Livermore Cabe with much of the same personnel, but will make a name change to “Mertz’s Grill”, he will also be looking at expanding the operations to be open on Sundays. The “Blueblazes” played on Saturday, June 5, 1976.

Early Friday morning June 22, 1979 the Livermore Ballroom building where good times prevailed for two to three generations burned down to the ground, thus ending the history of a nearly 100-year-old building. Mr. Tom Mulso who had leased the ballroom for only six months from Mel Mertz of Algona, was going to give up his lease that expired July 14, 1979, said that he doubted that a new one would be built for there was no insurance! The Livermore Ballroom was fully stocked for that Friday night dance with band “Shatter” and on Saturday night would have been “Judd”. The Livermore ballroom kept the City of Livermore, Iowa swinging for many years!

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Thursday, April 24, 1941 – Ott Menke Orchestra Poster

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Thursday, July 3, 1941 – Dawn Dance & Floor Show Poster

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Fire Destroys Landmark Livermore Ballroom Frida y early morning June 22 1979

the beginning of the figueroa ballroom 1938

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